Vlhova leads Bassino after 1st run of Sestriere GS

Photo: Vlhova. GEPA pictures.

The sun came out in Italy, and Sestriere treated ski fans to an exciting first run. After the first challenge, six nations are represented among the fastest six women. Those six women are separated by only 0.50 seconds. It is still anyone’s race.

As expected, the best have risen to the top. No athlete who started outside the top seven finished inside the top seven. 

While Petra Vlhova leads Italian Marta Bassino by only 0.07 seconds, the following four are very close. Among the four is US star Mikaela Shiffrin. Shiffrin is in touch in fourth, 0.44 behind the leader. 

Additionally, US’s Paula Moltzan, starting with bib 20, sits in 10th. The Canadian Valerie Grenier, bib 17, is 0.19 seconds behind Moltzan in 11th. Shiffrin, Moltzan and Grenier are the only North Americans qualified for the second run. 

World champion Lara Gut-Behrami, who won the only other GS of the season, was eighth, 1.12 behind Vlhová.

Four women started with bibs higher than 30 and qualified for the second run. Notably, Italy’s Asja Zenere, bib 43, finished the first challenge of the day 12th. The last woman eligible for the second run, Stephnie Brunner, finished 2.82 seconds behind the leader, Vlhova. 

Analysis of the top three and qualified North Americans as well as results of the top 30

The Associated Press contributed to this report.